Introduction to diagnostic test accuracy studies

European Journal of Endocrinology, vol. 184, pp. E5–E9

Abstract

Diagnostic accuracy studies are fundamental for the assessment of diagnostic tests. Researchers need to understand the implications of their chosen design, opting for comparative designs where possible. Researchers should analyse test accuracy studies using the appropriate methods, acknowledging the uncertainty of results and avoiding overstating conclusions and ignoring the clinical situation which should inform the trade-off between sensitivity and specificity. Test accuracy studies should be reported with transparency using the STAndards for the Reporting of Diagnostic accuracy studies (STARD) checklist.

Authors 4

1. Alice J. Sitch corresponding

   University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust · NIHR Birmingham Biomedical Research Centre · University of Birmingham

   Affiliation as printed

   1NIHR Birmingham Biomedical Research Centre, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust and University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK

   2Test Evaluation Research Group (TERG), Institute of Applied Health Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK

2. Olaf M. Dekkers Aachen 3Department of Clinical Epidemiology 4Department of Endocrinology

   Leiden University Medical Center

   Affiliation as printed

   3Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands

   4Department of Endocrinology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands

3. Barnaby R. Scholefield

   Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Foundation Trust · University of Birmingham

   Affiliation as printed

   5Birmingham Acute Care Research Group (BACR), Institute of Inflammation and Ageing, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK

   6Paediatric Intensive Care Unit, Birmingham Women & Children’s Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, UK

4. Yemisi Takwoingi

   University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust · NIHR Birmingham Biomedical Research Centre · University of Birmingham

   Affiliation as printed

   1NIHR Birmingham Biomedical Research Centre, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust and University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK

   2Test Evaluation Research Group (TERG), Institute of Applied Health Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK